Italy and Poland Compete for Billie Jean King Cup Final Spot

Italy and Poland are set to compete for a position in the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge final, scheduled for Wednesday. Italy, a consistent participant in the tournament, was last year’s finalist, while Poland has reached this stage for the first time in the nation’s history. The match will take place in Malaga, Spain.

Italy’s team includes Jasmine Paolini, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Lucia Bronzetti, Martina Trevisan, and the experienced Sara Errani, who returns to the squad for the first time since 2019. Errani, alongside Paolini, secured the winning point in their 2-1 victory over Japan in the quarter-finals, marking Errani’s 27th match-win for Italy. She now stands tied with Francesca Schiavone on Italy’s leaderboard.

Poland, in contrast, enters new territory with their semi-final appearance. Their success has been significantly bolstered by world No. 2 Iga Swiatek. The team’s decisive win over Czechia in the previous round set the stage for what is already Poland’s best finish in the competition, surpassing previous records set in 1992 and 2015.

The Italian team, a four-time champion, has not claimed the title since 2013. Last year’s defeat in the final was their closest bid since then. Meanwhile, Swiatek’s performance continues to elevate Poland’s standings, with the athlete having earned Poland’s first Olympic medal in tennis, a bronze, during Paris 2024.

The upcoming semi-final promises a key matchup between each country’s top-ranked singles player: Iga Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini. This clash serves as a rematch of the Roland-Garros final from earlier in the year, where Swiatek triumphed over Paolini. Swiatek remains undefeated in Billie Jean King Cup matches since 2019, and she expressed determination ahead of the semi-final, saying, «Playing for Poland is always amazing, so even if I’m going to die on court I’ll do it, I’ll give 100 percent.»

Paolini, a formidable opponent with a stellar year, has reached two Grand Slam finals and earned qualification for the WTA Finals in both singles and doubles. Her partnership with Errani has proven successful, as they secured Olympic gold, adding pressure on Poland to match Italy’s strategic play in doubles should the tie advance to that stage.